Millennials and Mental Health
Millennials are the population group born between 1981 and 1996. They are a generation that has seen swooping advances in technology and communications. They are also the first generation to have their lives simultaneously documented as they live them through social media. Due to various factors that we will discuss in this article, millennials are also known as an anxious, perfectionist, and lonely generation.
What is Happening?
Only 49% of millennials view their mental health as good or excellent. Millennial women are 20% less healthy than their male counterparts, with depression being one of the main ailments. [1]
Some of the drivers behind negative mental health outcomes for millennials are: financial trouble, reduced purchasing power, trouble making decisions, high pressure work environments, toxic messaging from social media, and lack of authentic connection with peers and others. Other factors that are sources of stress for this generation are climate change, global violence, high cost of living, and job security. These issues cause high levels of stress and anxiety in millennials, also known as Gen Y (generation Y).
Interestingly, a survey of millennials conducted by Deloitte showed that millennials ranked their mental and physical health as their top priorities (tied at 22%).[2]
Burnout
Burnout is a common and increasing occurrence among millennials. Burnout is mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. It is caused by continuous and excessive stress. If you are undergoing burnout, you may feel like you have neither physical, nor mental, nor emotional energy. You may feel depleted and like you have nothing more left to give. The negative affects of burnout can interfere with all areas of your life.
Signs of burnout include:
Irritability
Feeling overwhelmed
Feeling pessimistic
Anxiety
Feelings of inadequacy
Fatigue
Disturbed sleep patterns
Physical ailments
Apathy
Forgetfulness, brain fog
Difficulty concentrating
Anxiety and Depression
Millennials struggle with varying degrees of anxiety and rising rates of depression. This is fueled by numerous factors.
Financial Worries
Financial pressure and instability has contributed greatly to this. Many millennials are struggling to pay off their student loans. They are insecure about their financial future. Studies show that the economic inequality and distribution of wealth has an impact on the pessimistic outlook of many people in this generation.
Climate Change
The fragility of the planet and its resources is something that most millennials are very informed about. The limitations this may create in their future is in the collective mindset of this group of people. Climate change is apparent all over the country and through all seasons. The vast amount of information about this that is continuously put out through all media outlets can be anxiety inducing.
Social Media
Easy access technology and misinformation is another contributing factor to anxiety in this population. There is constant judgment, opinions, criticism, motivational quotes, self-help, advice, celebrity culture, and inflated messaging on how life should be. Social media builds in unconscious comparisons – you are comparing how your life compares to what you consume on apps like Instagram and TikTok. The numerous social media apps millennials are constantly logged into play a role in shaping their perception of the world. It also influences where they believe they fit in. This can lead to discontent, demotivation, and feeling like you do not measure up. The never-ending stream of information and misinformation contributes to anxiety.
“There’s a lot of news on the internet, including fake news, and many people’s online persona portrays negativity, discrimination, and everything that’s wrong with the world. Millennials are largely on the receiving end of cyber-violence, constant judgment, misinformation, and exposure to news of turbulent events from around the world. All these can cause a great deal of existential dread and anxiety.”[3]
This overload of information, choices, and options can lead to a phenomenon known as decision fatigue. This is when the number of choices overwhelm a person and they cannot decide what to do. Their indecision results in their feeling anxious, inadequate, and without direction.
Pressure to ‘Hustle’
Millennials have grown up under the cloud of ‘hustle culture’. Hustle culture is the sometimes toxic, driven need to achieve, work, accomplish, and succeed. We have all heard of having a ‘side hustle’ – another source of revenue - along with a day job. The desire for wealth and success may be driven by personal, familial, or societal expectations. When working long, hard hours does not yield results, anxiety, depression and frustration follow.
Loneliness
Millennials have been called the loneliest generation. This is due to a lack of authentic connection with peers, family members, colleagues and their own selves. Social media apps can help people be in touch more, but they are not a replacement for real connection. There is less value placed on in-person socialization, a factor that is contributing to the isolation of this age group.
Mental Health and the Workplace
Places of work do not always offer mental health support or services. Due to the fear of stigmatization, many millennials are reluctant to share their mental health condition or ask for support in the workplace. This is especially alarming when their place of work is the source of stress and anxiety for so many. Studies show that workplaces are not doing enough to address the mental health concerns of their employees.
Millennials and Seeking Help
The good news is that millennials are aware of self-care and are enthusiastic about practicing it. For example, they are generally more nutrition and exercise conscious as well.
Additionally, millennials are more likely to go to therapy and to talk about their mental health conditions than are other generations. Their attitude towards mental health opens up the conversation around their struggles and enlisting help.
“Sometimes I worry about the mental health of my generation. But I also think that people my age are doing something that hasn’t really been done before—seeking therapy, being honest with ourselves, and our loved ones, about how we’re feeling and opting out of doing things, even for a day, like going to work or school, because we’re not having a good mental health day. I think we’re realizing that physically showing up isn’t always enough. You have to mentally be there too. So I think that when we take the space for ourselves, that’s how we take care of each other.”
—Natalie, 21, US [4]
Due to work schedules and other demands, millennials may find it difficult to attend therapy sessions. This is why online therapy, or telehealth, is an option that works for many. With online therapy, the session is conducted online through an app like Zoom. This removes the stress of fighting traffic, anxiety about reaching a session on time, and the hassle of finding parking. Time is saved by attending a therapy session online from home, or any other place of convenience.
Inclusivity and Representation
Millennials are a highly aware generation that is sensitive to inclusivity and representation. It is important for them to find a therapist that genuinely understands their cultural background and how it will affect their treatment strategy. Along with other forms of therapy, treatment options such as faith-based therapy, BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) therapy, and LGBTQ+ therapy offer inclusive spaces.
FAQs
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An expert mental health professional will help you figure out what is causing your depression. Through therapy sessions, they will talk you through your depressive symptoms. Treatment will identify the behavioral patterns, emotions, thoughts, and past and current experiences that are triggering and adding to your depression. Depression therapy will give you the tools and skills to help you better cope with and manage your depression. Therapy has positive, long-lasting effects that will continue to benefit you once your treatment is over.
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Several treatment options work in treating depression. Here at Trust Mental Health, we use the following techniques, among others:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT works to change unhealthy thought patterns and improve emotional regulation. It teaches you how to apply the coping strategies you have learned to your daily life.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – DBT applies and integrates mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT challenges thinking in absolutes.
Talk therapy – Talk therapy helps people understand how their behavior and mood are affected by unresolved issues and buried feelings. It enables you to deal with repressed problems and reduce the impact they have on your life.
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Trust Mental Health serves clients from all over California. We offer online therapy, which enables you to attend your therapy sessions from your home, virtually. This will eliminate the hassle of traffic, travel time, and finding parking.
We also have three locations in Newark, San Jose, and Irvine. Click here to find us on the map.
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We accept United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna Insurance, HSA card, Lyra EAP, Valley Health Plan and Private Pay.
Here at Trust Mental Health we have a team of therapists from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Combined, we speak over ten languages. If you seek support and counseling, please do reach out to us. We will match you to a therapist best suited to your unique needs. We offer a safe, judgment free therapeutic environment. Contact us for a free 15 minute consultation.
REFERENCES:
[1] https://www.bcbs.com/smarter-better-healthcare
[2] https://www2.deloitte.com/
[3] https://www.byrdie.com/what-is-millennial-anxiety-4802478
[4] https://www2.deloitte.com/